New Discoveries and Honors in Cancer Research

Read the latest cancer research and recognition from the members of the Damon Runyon scientific circle.

June 1, 2011

Blocking stem-like cells in triple-negative breast cancers

William C. Hahn, MD, PhD (Damon Runyon Fellow ‘98-‘99), Serena J. Silver, PhD (Damon Runyon Fellow ‘05-‘06), Kornelia Polyak, MD, PhD (Clinical Investigator Award Committee Member), and colleagues at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, reported new findings about stem cells in triple-negative breast cancers, which tend to be aggressive and highly resistant to current therapies. The researchers discovered that these cells have elevated activity of genes in the Jak2/Stat3 pathway. Blocking this pathway halted tumor growth in a mouse model of triple-negative breast cancer. These findings may lead to more specific and effective breast cancer therapies. The report was published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.